Dems lack unified plan for pushing Paris climate bill

DposNews - April 30, 2019 - puck

The House this week is expected to pass its first major climate-focused bill in almost 10 years, but some Democrats say the party is failing to put its best foot forward on an issue they consider a top priority requiring urgent action.

The measure, which the House is expected to pass Thursday along party lines, would bind the Trump administration to the carbon-cutting goals of the 2015 Paris climate agreement — the international accord that the president vowed to withdraw the U.S. from almost two years ago.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy Patricia D'Alesandro PelosiGrassley to Trump: Lift tariffs or new NAFTA deal is ‘dead’ Omar hits back at Meghan McCain over criticism after synagogue shooting: ‘Bless her heart’ The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden, Trump vie for Rust Belt voters MORE (D-Calif.) has said the Climate Action Now Act shows Democrats are “taking first strong steps to protect our planet and our future.”

But unlike almost every other high-profile bill, no Democratic senator has introduced a companion measure, suggesting further disunity following the divisive Green New Deal championed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezConway responds to Ocasio-Cortez: ‘I judge no one’s faith’ Ocasio-Cortez challenges Conway on Sri Lanka comments: ‘Are you trying to imply that I am less Christian?’ Partygoers promote favorite candidates at The Young Turks event MORE (D-N.Y.).

Rep. Kathy CastorKatherine (Kathy) Anne CastorThis week: Barr back in hot seat over Mueller report Environmentalists see victory with Green New Deal blitz Dem lawmaker offers tool for ‘filling in the blanks’ of Green New Deal MORE (D-Fla.), the bill’s sponsor and chairwoman of the House Select Committee on Climate Crisis, told The Hill she was at a loss for why Senate Democrats haven’t been involved.

“I wish I could shed more light on the operations of the U.S. Senate — it confounds all of us on the House side,” Castor said.

Senate leaders on the environment front have not stepped forward to introduce that chamber’s version of the bill, H.R. 9.

Sen. Tom CarperThomas (Tom) Richard CarperOvernight Energy: Critics accuse EPA of weakening pollution rule for Pentagon | Booker unveils environmental justice initiative | House to vote on climate bill next week Critics accuse EPA of weakening pollution rule for Pentagon The Hill’s 12:30 Report: All eyes on Biden MORE (D-Del.), the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said in a statement to The Hill he agreed it’s imperative that the U.S. commit to the Paris climate accord, but he didn’t comment on why he isn’t sponsoring a similar bill in the Senate.

“The reality is that we do not have time to wait for President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump hits Biden as he hits 2020 trail Trump blasts union chiefs after Biden gets key endorsement Grassley to Trump: Lift tariffs or new NAFTA deal is ‘dead’ MORE and other climate deniers to come to their senses, we must instead work now in Congress to realize the changes needed to protect our planet for generations to come,” he said.

The House legislation has 224 co-sponsors — all Democrats.

But some Democrats are hesitant to highlight its likely passage as a major achievement.

Lawmakers have held about 17 climate-related hearings since Democrats took control of the House in January, yet discussions over what form climate legislation should take have led to tension within the party.

Progressives have expressed their preference for comprehensive legislation that would lead to the creation of a green economy and include climate mitigation efforts, similar to the Green New Deal, while more moderate members favor smaller measures that they argue have a better chance of making it through Congress.

Critics say Castor’s bill is neither.

House Republicans plan to hit Democrats on their lack of a next step for the measure, according to a senior GOP House aide.

“This Congress, Democrats have been obsessed with scoring political points instead of solving problems. This is more of the same — a rushed messaging bill with not a prayer of becoming law,” the aide said. “You can expect our procedural positioning to draw attention to that dichotomy.”

A senior Democratic aide in the Senate said that after the House approves the climate bill, Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerSchumer jokes NY Times erred in crossword clue: ‘Chuck’ has ‘five letters!’ MJ Hegar announces Texas Senate bid Hillicon Valley: House Dems subpoena full Mueller report | DOJ pushes back at ‘premature’ subpoena | Dems reject offer to view report with fewer redactions | Trump camp runs Facebook ads about Mueller report | Uber gets B for self-driving cars MORE (D-N.Y.) plans to demand Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPompeo defends US support for Saudis in Yemen as ‘in America’s best interest’ Americans split on ObamaCare: Gallup The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden, Trump vie for Rust Belt voters MORE (R-Ky.) bring it up for a vote, “in addition to the other House-passed bills sitting in Sen. McConnell’s legislative graveyard,” such as measures addressing gun safety, health care and voting rights.

The aide said Democrats are keenly aware of the lack of GOP support for climate bills in the Republican-led Senate and are wary of wasting too much political capital there, calling the House measure a “messaging bill.”

But McConnell has at times held votes on legislation in an attempt to divide Senate Democrats, as was the case last month when the chamber voted on the Green New Deal resolution, a progressive plan to transition the U.S. electric grid to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.

Most Senate Democrats voted present on that measure in a sign of unity that also allowed Democrats with tough reelection bids, like Sen. Doug Jones (Ala.), to avoid going on the record on the climate proposal.

Holding a vote on H.R. 9 in the Senate would very well create a similar headache for Senate Democrats, especially with lawmakers like Sen. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinHillicon Valley: FBI to brief Florida lawmakers on election hacking | Tech giants partner with DEA on anti-opioid efforts | Facebook sues company for selling fake engagement Big tech partners with DEA on opioid drop-off efforts NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell tears up over video celebrating 25 years at network MORE (D-W.Va.) opposed to the Paris climate agreement.

“H.R. 9 is going to pass [the House]. That is something that is great,” the Senate aide said.

“We’re also focused on addressing climate change in a way we have leverage,” the aide added, pointing to a potential infrastructure deal.

Pelosi, Schumer and other top Democrats are scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Tuesday to talk infrastructure. Democratic leaders on Monday said they want any infrastructure deal to take climate change into consideration.

And while some Democrats are not enthusiastic about Castor’s bill, they say other measures are in the works.

One senior Democratic aide likened the House push behind H.R. 9 to a mutual agreement to support “the lowest common denominator success story.”

“I don’t know any Democrats who think this is the final word on Democratic climate policy for this Congress,” the House aide said.